Opportunities to Connect, Interact and Support Women Business Owners Are Plentiful This Spring

One of the many benefits of representing the voice of women business owners is having the opportunity to connect and interact with some pretty amazing people. In late March, I was invited to a Women’s History Month reception at Vice President Joe Biden’s home. He and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, welcomed an impressive group of women leaders to celebrate the history, accomplishments and contributions of women across the spectrum of American life. Among them were the U.S.’s first female Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, the most recently recognized longest serving woman in Congress U.S. Senator for Maryland Barbara Mikulski and White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett. I was humbled and honored to be there to represent NAWBO®. You can read the White House’s official blog on the reception here at www.whitehouse.gov/blog. There are opportunities coming for you, too, to have your voice heard and connect and interact with amazing people—high-level decision makers with the power and influence to further initiatives that are most important to women business owners right now. America’s Small Business Summit is May 21-23, 2012 in Washington, DC, and NAWBO® is partnering with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Latino Coalition to bring you this year’s premier small business event. In addition, NAWBO members will have an opportunity to meet with high-level members of the Administration, White House and elected officials on Capitol Hill. This conference unites more than 600 small business owners, managers and entrepreneurs from across the country to learn, network and discuss common legislative and management concerns. Take advantage of early bird registration for the Summit through April 16th. A 5% discount on published airfares is also provided by American Airlines for Summit attendees. For more information and to register, visit www.uschambersummit.com. To read the latest U.S. Chamber blog, go to cwb.uschamber.com/blog/2012/04/empowering-women-owned-businesses. NAWBO® is also working to provide opportunities for our members to speak out and make a difference for women business owners. In this issue of Focus, you’ll read about an important call-to-action to support S. 2172, the Fairness in Women-Owned Small Business Contracting Act. It aims to fix the barriers that continue to exist in the Small Business Administration’s Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program and bring parity for women-owned business in the world of government procurement. We are encouraging NAWBO® members and our community of supporters toemail and call Senators’ offices, asking for their co-sponsorship of the legislation. Use this link to find your Senator’s contact information

—Diane Tomb, NAWBO® President & CEOSpeaking Out

Access to capital remains a top issue for women business owners, so it’s no wonder journalists often reach out to NAWBO® asking our opinion on the matter. Listen to one recent MarketWatch Radio Network interview here.